Sri Sathya Sai Baba has
declared that He will usher in a new era of Love, Peace, Righteousness,
and Truth. This "Golden Age," as He calls it, is destined to begin soon
with an event (or series of events) that will draw world attention to
His Divinity. Many of Baba's devotees wonder what these events will be
like, what the Golden Age represents, and what our duty is towards it,
Bhagawan, and each other.

This book of quotations,
written for Baba's devotees, draws together all the material that I have
been able to find on the nature and characteristics of the Golden Age
and on our duty in regards to it

Baba tells us that we
are fortunate to live during these times. Never in human history has the
planet witnessed a full Incarnation of the Divine working with the
world's population to raise human consciousness to a level where world
peace and fulfillment are possible. All power resides in Swami's Palm
and yet He does not intend to correct the Earth's problems with a sweep
of His hand. Instead, He proposes to work with humans from within, to
raise our awareness so that we are empowered to solve our own global
predicaments. Swami promises all of us accelerated spiritual growth, and
even liberation for those who stick to their Sadhana to the end. The
opportunity of these times should not go uncontemplated.

Baba's is an unfolding
gospel. He adds to His revelation daily. We sit, mere spectators,
watching and waiting for the golden moment to arrive when He announces
Himself to those in the world who remain unaware of His Presence on
Earth. Talk circulates of an impending economic crisis, during which the
leaders of the world turn to Baba as the only one who can solve it.
Miracles occur such as Ganesha statues drinking milk. Food animals such
as salmon and cod disappear from the Earth's oceans and whole herds of
cattle are infected with disease and must be destroyed. To what extent
are these evidences of Baba's activity in pushing and pulling the world
towards some unknown consummation? We cannot know until Baba unfolds for
us the whole of His Plan.

For my part, I find more
satisfaction than I can say in being able to watch over and participate
in these events as a Sai researcher and writer. I thank Bhagawan for
answering the prayers and pleadings of saints and sages, whose
supplications have brought Him here. And I thank Him for allowing me to
serve Him in this way as a means of earning His Grace.

Om Jai Sai Ram!

Nirmal

PROPHECIES ON BABA

Aurobindo on Sri
Sathya Sai Baba

Twenty-fourth November,
1926, was the descent of Krishna into the physical. A power infallible
shall lead the thought in earthly hearts, kindle the Immortal's Fire,
even the multitude shall hear the voice!

Mohammed on Sai

[Sanjay Kant:] According
to an article published in "Two Worlds" magazine of London, an Iranian
writer was irresistibly drawn to a huge volume in Tehran. This Book,
called "The Ocean of Light", is in 25 volumes. It is claimed to be the
collection of the discourses of Prophet Mohammed. Volume 13 of these
discourses is called "Mehedi Moud" in Arabic, meaning "The Great teacher
that was promised." The teacher is also referred to as "Master of the
World", "Master of Time", "Godís President" and "God Speaking and
Advising". Prophet Mohammed is quoted by Peggy Mason to have indicated a
large number of signs or marks by which the great teacher would be
recognized. Prominent among these hallmarks, which remarkably identify
... Sathya Sai Baba are: "His hair will be profuse. His forehead will be
large and concave. His nose will be small, with a slight bump at the
bridge. His front teeth will be spaced apart. He will have a mole on his
cheek. He will not have a beard but will be clean shaven. His clothing
will be like a flame. He will wear two robes (one an under robe). The
colour of his face will be some times yellow like gold, some times very
dark and some times shining like the moon. His body will be small. His
legs will be like those of a young girl. All the teachings of all the
religions of the world will be in his heart from birth. All the science
and knowledge of the world from the beginning of time will be in his
heart.

All things which you
will ask from God, he (the Master of the World) will give you. All the
treasures are under his feet. He will give gifts that are light in
weight. He will go around among his devotees and touch their heads with
his hand. Every eye that sees him will be happy, not only humans but
disembodied souls. He will live 95 years. (Sai Baba has said that will
be in the present body for 96 years -- this means he would leave his
present body around 2022 A.D.)

In the last twenty years
of His life, He will be the 'King of the whole world', but at that time
only two thirds of the world will believe Him... (This period would then
be 2000 A.D. -- corroborating [the] Cayce Prophecies [see below].
Muslims will recognise him only nine years before his passing from the
world. He will make the world light and full of peace. So as not to be
deceived, you should know that the Master of the World will bring things
out of His body, through His mouth.

According to all
prophecies and predictions Sathya Sai Baba is going to emerge as the
universal Messiah and savior by the end of this decade. All prophecies
and predictions also point to great upheavals on the economic,
geographic and political fronts by 2000 A.D. Recent changes in Russia
and eastern Europe are evident examples.

[Swami Maheshwaranand:]
Irani Ma, one of the old devotees of Bhagawan, wanted to publish what
prophet Mohammed had prophesied ... "Ocean of Light". In this book 27
attributes pertaining to the Avatar have been mentioned in full detail.
Baba, however, did not give permission for its publication.

Cayce on Sai

[Sanjay Kant:] When
those that have gradually forgotten God entirely have been eliminated
... there will come at the close of this next year, the period when
there will be no part of the Globe where man [will not] hear, 'THE LORD
HE IS GOD," and when the period has been accomplished, the new era, the
new age, is to begin. (Edgar Cayce cited in GDOE, 21. The year of
Cayce's prediction is around 1998.)

Nostradamus on Sai

[Sanjay Kant:] According
to ... Nostradamus who recorded his prophecies in his book 'Centuries'
about 400 years back, a very great leader would be born in South
India.... He would have unlimited wisdom and power, and He would be the
greatest conqueror in history. He would be [an] immortal ruler. With His
efforts, world war would be over, and India's spiritual message to
humanity would be spread far and wide. He would observe Thursday as the
holy day. (GDOE, 36-7)

Sai Baba is the
Apocalyptic Conqueror and the Kalki Avatar

And I saw, and behold, a
white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given
unto him: and he went forth conquering and to conquer. (St. John,
Revelation 6:2.)

And I saw heaven opened,
and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful
and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

His eyes were as a flame
of fire, and on his head were many crowns, and he had a name, written,
that no man knew, but he himself.

And he was clothed with
vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

... .And he hath on his
vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF
LORDS. (St. John, Revelation
19:11-13 + 16.)

[Howard Murphet:] There
are Sai devotees in the West who think that the Sathya Sai Avatar is the
promised Conqueror of Saint John's Apocalyptic vision as given in the
Book of Revelations in the New Testament. Like all visions lying beyond
the space-time dimensions, the Apocalypse is couched in symbolic
language. It has, therefore, been given many different interpretations
by different people. But in general its theme is the return of the
Godman, the Avatar, who will come as a Conqueror of evil forces and
establish the Kingdom of God.

In one place St. John
writes, 'And I saw heaven open, and behold a white horse; and he that
sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth
judge and make war.'

In her book The
Hidden Manna [Patrizia Norelli-Backlet, The Hidden Manna.
Aeon Books: 1976], Patrizia Norelli-Backlet endeavors to interpret the
Apocalypse according to cosmic
astrology and the language of the
zodiac which, she says, was understood by the initiates of old. She
states that the Conqueror is, in fact, the Kalki Avatar who is pictured
riding a white horse in Hindu Puranas.

Swami has not, himself,
stated that he is the Kalki Avatar, but people have experienced, in his
presence, visions of that evolutionary Avatar, mounted on a white horse.

[Kasturi:] The ten
incarnations [of Vishnu] were revealed to [a] gentleman, now
deceased.... Baba took him to the river and asked him to watch His
reflection in the water. The man announced later that he saw at first
Sathya Sai Baba Himself, then only the halo of hair that surrounds His
Head, and then all the ten incarnations in the order in which they are
mentioned in the legendary histories of India; the tenth and last
incarnation on a white horse, had the form of Baba Himself!

[Hilda Charlton:] As I
sat in the Bhajan hall at Prashanthi Nilayam, listening to the joyous
songs sung by the devotees, and looking at Sai Baba sitting in his chair
on the dais, suddenly over Baba's head there appeared a figure of great
beauty, riding a white horse. At this time I did not know the
significance of this symbolic figure. I asked someone if there was in
Hindu scriptures a person who rode a white horse. I was told that the
Kalki Avatar rides a white horse, and Kalki is the Avatar for whom
people are looking forward.

[Murphet:]
Norelli-Backlet believes that the Hindu Puranas are cosmic revelations,
containing the cycles of Times, and the manifestations of divine truth,
in their structure, and that the Puranic stories corroborate the
Apocalypse of Saint John.

... Some western
students of the Sai Movement ... equate him with the Apocalyptic
Conqueror, and the Kalki Avatar. If they are right, we can, according to
the Apocalypse and the Puranas, [expect] some violent clashes of
opposing forces, some cataclysmic world struggles ahead. Avatar Rama led
the armies of righteousness in a great war against the demonic forces.
Avatar Krishna was involved in the holocaust of the Kurukshetra war. The
prophecies foretell even more terrible wars in the time of the Kalki
Avatar and St. John's Conqueror.

[Murphet:] Many rumors
fly around as to what Swami has said about frightening large-scale
events and conditions of the near future. But when I, and others in my
presence, have asked him about these matters, he has never said that
cataclysmic wars, with wholesale destruction, are imminent.

[Murphet:] In [a] talk
[with Sage Markandeya] a few years before the Kali Age began [and
recorded in the Mahabharata], Lord Vishnu told how Light would come to
earth when the evils of the [Kali] Age had reached a level that required
the direct action of God. Lord Vishnu said to the sage Markandeya: "When
evil is rampant upon this earth, I will take birth in the family of a
virtuous man, and assume a human body to restore tranquility by the
extermination of all evils; for the preservation of rectitude and
morality, I will assume an inconceivable human form when the season for
action comes. In the Kali Age of sin I will assume an Avatar form that
is dark in color. I will be born in a family in South India. This Avatar
will possess great energy, great intelligence and great powers. Material
objects needed for this Avatar's mission will be at his disposal as soon
as He will think of them. He will be victorious with the strength of
virtue. He will restore order and peace in the world. This Avatar will
inaugurate a new Era of Truth, and will be surrounded by spiritual
people. He will roam over the earth adored by the spiritual people."

"The people of the earth
will imitate this Avatar's conduct, and there will be prosperity and
peace. Men will once more betake themselves to the practice of religious
rites. Educational centers for the cultivation of Brahmic lore, and
temples, will reappear again everywhere. Ashrams will be filled with men
of Truth. Rulers of the earth will govern their kingdoms virtuously. The
Avatar will have an illustrious reputation. "

This prophecy concerning
the Kalki Avatar, from the Mahabharata, is collaborated in the ancient
classic, the Vishnu Purana, which also mentions that this Avatar will
display great superhuman powers in establishing the new age of Truth. It
adds that, "His parents will be devotees of Vishnu, and will reside in a
village worshipping the cowherd form of Sri Krishna."

Baba Mentioned in
Ancient Hindu Scriptures and Naadis

[Swami Maheshwaranand:]
What is special about [the epic called the Jaimini Mahabharata] is that
it contains a detailed and complete account of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai
Baba, an incarnation of Lord Shiva. It mentions the name of the Avatar,
a full account of his dynasty, and contains descriptions [of] several
wonderful miracles performed by the Lord indicating the beginning of a
new era by establishing true religion on the lines of Sathya Yuga.

The Siddhas who visited
the Gufa Ashram had the good fortune of going through this holy book.
They were amazed to see, read and hear the contents. They realised then
that over five thousand years ago the great Muni Jaimini who was
[farther] advanced in spirituality than them predicted.... the
incarnation of Lord Sainath.

[Swami Maheshwaranand:]
When the Sadhaks staying at Gufa Ashram sought permission for the
publication of the reference about Bhagawan Baba in Jaimini Mahabharata,
Baba refused.

[Swami Maheshwaranand:]
Acharya Ganjur Narayana of Bangalore is in possession of a rare script
of 'Sai Charitamrutum'. This was written by Shuka Muni five thousand
years ago. There is a detailed description about the incarnation of Lord
Sai in Kaliyuga. Some of the Sai lovers approached Bhagawan and sought
permission to publish this important document. But their request was not
granted.

[Shakuntala Balu:] A
well known astrology professor ... of Bangalore, Sri Ganjur Narayana
Shastry, recently traced a Shuka Naadi Grantha (a volume of palm
leaf manuscripts by Sage Shuka) on Sri Sathya Sai Baba, entitled Sai
charitamrita Grantham. It consists of hundreds of palm leaf
manuscripts written in Sanskrit and is thought to have been set down
over 5000 years ago. It describes, accurately and at great length, Sri
Sathya Sai Baba's family tree and many facts about him. ...

His glory will spread,
and many people will get near him. ... Total equanimity will be his. ...
He will not be concerned with public opinion and will only do what is
right. ... His life will be for the good of mankind. .... The Naadi
astrologer says that Adharma (unrighteousness) has grown to three
fourths proportion. When it increases by one fourth more, that is when
all becomes unrighteousness, Sri Sathya Sai Baba's full powers will come
into play and be known in the world. In other words, evil has to rise to
its uttermost before his divine quality can be fully realised.

As things stand at
present, Sri Sathya Sai Baba displays only one tenth of his real self.
After a while, his efforts to save the world will increase tenfold....
He will show that he alone can control the fury of nature. ... In a
short time, his greatness will spread further and there will be
universal worship of Sathya Sai. ....

If people recognise the
truth of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, salvation will not be long to follow. ...
The Shuka Naadi emphasizes that Sainath (Lord Sai) is Mahavishnu
Swarupa, a form of Great Vishnu Himself. Seeing Him is the same as
looking upon Lord Vishnu. ...

Very soon, more and more
people will come to accept his divinity, for they will have seen his
divine powers. After the spring of 1979, the tide will turn and dharma
will slowly reassert itself, atheism will begin to decrease. India will
come into better days, too, and once again the influence of the present
Maha Purusha [great being] or Maha Shakti [great power] will be
decisive. Sri Sathya Sai Baba will perform even greater miracles, more
wondrous than any he has performed up to now. One of the examples of his
miracles mentioned in the Shuka Naadi is ... he will keep an
airplane airborne for a long time after it runs out of fuel, through his
will alone. ... Very soon now, the days of his great glory will be upon
us.

One article, which was
taken from Sanathana Sarathi of February 1961 is entitled "Bhagawan
Sathya Sai Baba's 500-year old Horoscope." It reads: "There is an
institution in New Delhi known as Indian Astro-Occult Research
Association. Dr. E.V. Sastry [evidently not the same as Sri Ganjur
Narayana Shastry of the previous instance], a famous and prominent
member of the association happened to read the book Sathyam Sivam
Sundaram. He then began a search to find out from Nadi Grandham
available in Tamil Nadu, about the indications in Baba's horoscope. ...
In these collections of grandhas which are more than five hundred
years old and are considered as one of the wonders of the world, were
found some parts describing Baba, all of which were not in a single
instance different from what is published about Baba's life in the book
Sathyam Sivam Sundaram. This truth made him wonderstruck. ... Dr.
Sastry ... [whose] pen name is Leo ... happened to come to Puttaparthi
in November 1960 on the birthday of Baba. On that occasion Dr. Sastry
had with him an old palm leaf taken out from the Naadi Grandham,
which contained details about Baba written by ... an old, famous and
well learned pundit.

... In one Naadi
Grandha the following is said: "The person to whom this horoscope
relates in his previous birth was Sai Baba, who was a famous Maharshi.
He was also a world famous Sad Guru!" Another Naadi says, "I am
an avatar of Sai". ... In all three Nadis [Agastheya, Budha
and Sukra Nadis], the names of his father and mother are
mentioned, clearly, truly and accurately. In addition, another fact
clearly mentioned in these is, "the person to whom this horoscope
relates, whose name is Sathyanarayana Raju, will renounce the world in
his boyhood, will start schools and hospitals, will publish books for
the upliftment of the world, will spend every day of his whole lifetime
for the establishment of dharma, which is his ideal and objective."
Another fact written in Budha Nadi is, "the person to whom this
horoscope relates will spend the whole of his lifetime always enjoying
the bliss from uniting Jivatma with Paramatma." In Agastheya Naadi
it is mentioned that Baba will be an all merciful avatar of God. Not
only that, but it is also mentioned that He will be Akkilathara pitha,
i.e., authority of Manava vamsam, preceptor, protector, and
father of the world.

In Sukra Naadi it
is written, "Baba will have all the Siddhis, possessed by Sai Baba; by
love, kindness and knowledge he will establish eternal bliss in this
world. He will establish a Mandir which will be conducive for practicing
tapas, etc." On top of all this is another important passage in
Sukra Naadi, i.e., "the person to
whom this horoscope relates will be an Avatar amongst the Avatars."
Another sentence is, "He will derive immense pleasure in the service of
mankind."

... The fact about
[Baba's] coming into being, written separately, several centuries before
His incarnation by three special expert astrologers, ... describing His
character which is in no way different from what we see now in Him, is
an agreeable surprise.

BABAíS DECLARATIONS

1955

Baba's Mission

In this Avatar [Divine
Incarnation], the wicked will not be destroyed; they will be corrected
and reformed and educated and led back to the path from which they have
strayed. (SSS, I, 22; from talk given Maha Shivarathri, 1955)

Follow My Advice

You can get Anandam
[Divine Bliss] only by following the advice I give you and that is why I
am particular that you should listen carefully and take to heart all
that I say. (SSS, I, 15; Maha Shivarathri, 1955)

1956

The Avatar's Mission

When man loses his way
and strays into the wilderness, believing that he is the body or Gunas
[illusory cosmic qualities] or the object, then the Avatar comes to warn
and guide. (SSS, I, 25; from talk given August 1, 1956)

1958

This Kali Yuga

The present situation in
the world is like a typhoon, causing unrest and confusion. No one has
mental quiet; fear and anxiety stalk everywhere; panic reigns even while
the conquest of space and the creation of new planets is being hailed. (SSS,
I, 39; from a talk given Feb. 2, 1958)

Today, the typhoon of
hatred and falsehood is scattering the clouds of Dharma [Righteousness],
Nyaya [Philosophy] and Sathya [Truth] to the far corners of the sky and
people feel that Sanathana Dharma [Hinduism in particular; the Ancient
Wisdom in general] itself is in danger of extinction. But that can
happen only if the lord wills, and the Lord who has laid down the Dharma
[the Law or Order] will not allow it to be destroyed. (SSS, I, 51; March
24, 1958)

The World today is
suffering from Rajobuddhi [restlessness of mind] rather than Thamas
[slothfulness]; people have violent likes and dislikes; they have become
fanatical and factious, they are carried away by pomp and noise, show
and propaganda; that is why discrimination has become necessary. To
reach the goal, Sathwabuddhi [balance of mind] is essential; it will
seek the Truth calmly and stick to it whatever the consequence. (SSS,I,
66; July 25, 1958)

Baba's Mission

Man ... has been
forgetting the path prescribed in the Scriptures for the cultivation of
his nature, and hence all this suffering: hence also My Advent. (SSS, I,
65; July 25, 1958)

Of course, I confer on
you these boons of health and prosperity but only so that you might,
with greater enthusiasm and with less interruption, proceed with
spiritual Sadhana [practice]. (SSS, I, 66; July 25, 1958)

The Lord is
Omnipotent

They feared that I may
not be able to cross the floods and come south in time for this
engagement. From the fact that I had permitted them to announce My
arrival for this function, they could well have inferred that the floods
would subside and that I would be in their midst, for once My Word goes
forth, it must happen accordingly. Do not doubt it. (SSS, I, 94; Sept.
9, 1958)

Believe Me, nothing can
hamper Me; My will must prevail. Those who spread stories that I was
held up by the floods were ignorant of My Reality.

Nothing can hold Me up
or agitate Me or cast a shadow on Me in this Human Form; be certain of
that. Not even a hair can be touched by forces of calumny or distrust or
ignorance. My Sankalpa [Will] must prevail; My task must be
accomplished. My Mission will succeed. I have come to illuminate the
human heart with the Light Divine and to rid man of the delusion that
drags him away from the path of Shanthi [Peace], the perfect equanimity
of Realisation. (SSS, I, 94-5; Sept. 9, 1958)

The Lord is
Inscrutable

No one can understand my
Mystery. The best you can do is to get immersed in it. It is no use your
arguing about pros and cons; dive and know the depth; eat and know the
taste. (SSS, I, 71; July 25, 1958)

I Give You What You
Ask For

I am like a shopkeeper
whose shop is stocked with all things man needs. But, like the man
behind the counter, I give you only what you ask for; if the customer
asks for a towel, how can I give him a dhoti [wearing cloth]? But these
material things are not important at all. Ask for Bhakthi [Devotion]and
for Jnana [Wisdom] and I shall be happy. Many do not crave for such
things now; it is their misfortune. They are merely wasting their
chance. (SSS, I, 54; March 24, 1958)

He Lord is the Kalpataru,
the Divine Tree that gives whatever is asked. But you have to go near
the tree and ask for what you want. (SSS, I, 59; March 25, 1958)

Earn the right to
approach the Lord without fear and the right to ask for your heritage. (SSS,
I, 59; March 25, 1958)

Love is the Wealth I
have to give you

You can call me
Premaswarupa [Embodiment of Divine Love]! You will not be wrong! Prema
[divine love] is the wealth I have and which I scatter among the
miserable and afflicted. (SSS, I, 63; July 22, 1958)

What is Essential

It is not even Bhakti
that is essential. It is Love, Truth, Virtue, the eagerness to progress,
to serve, to expand one's heart, to take in the whole of humanity in
one's Love, to see all as Forms of the Divine Consciousness. (SSS, I,
55; March 24, 1958)

Today, I am really full
of joy for I have before me people who are engaged in hardy toil and who
sacrifice their personal comforts in order to make others happy. What
the world needs is work done in that spirit. (SSS, I, 83; Sept. 2, 1958)

Attach Yourself to
the Lord

Attachment to nature has
limits, but the attachment to the Lord that you develop when the Inner
Eye opens has no limits. (SSS, I, 43; Feb. 2, 1958)

Attach your mind to the
Lord. Then you will be led on to the company of good men and your
talents will be transmuted. (SSS, I, 67; July 25, 1958)

Begin Now

You owe your birth to
God, you subsist on God and you merge in God. Every living thing has to
reach that consummation; why, every non-living thing too. So, do it now;
take the first step, purify the heart, sharpen the intellect or at
least, begin the recital of the name of the Lord. That will give you all
the rest in due time. (SSS, I, 79; Sept. 2, 1958)

1959

The Avatar's Mission

It is to clear the path
of spiritual progress of Man that the Avatar has come. The Asanthi in
which man is immersed has to be curbed. ... All Jivis must get Shanthi
and Santosha [??]; that is the mission on which the Lord comes again and
again on this Earth. He selects a place full of Pavithratha or holiness,
and divyathwam or divinity and takes on the human form, so that you may
meet Him and talk, understand and appreciate, listen and follow,
experience and benefit.

The tragedy is that when
Godhead is invisible, formless, you concretize it as you like and pray
to it and get consolation and strength out of it; but when it is before
you, concretized in human form, you doubt and discuss and deny! (SSS, I,
127; from talk given July 10, 1959)

The Lord had announced
that he would come down for the restoration of Dharma and that He would
assume human form so that He might gather round Him and feel the thrill
of His Companionship and Conversation. And the Lord has Come, as
announced. (SSS, I, 150; Jan. 22, 1960)

The Lord is
Inscrutable

You need not waste time
in trying to discover Me and My Nature. Understand what I teach, not
'who is the teacher' for I am beyond your intellect and your Shakti. You
will understand Me only through My work. That is why sometimes in order
to reveal who I am, I myself show you my 'Visiting Card', something you
call a Miracle. Know the 'marma' or the mystery and carry out the karma
or the duty I assign you. (SSS, I, 114; February 2, 1959)

How Best to Use the
Avatar

You must dive deep into
the sea to get the pearls. ... So also if you must realise the full
fruit of this Avatar, dive deep and get immersed in Sai Baba.
Half-heartedness, hesitation, doubt, cynicism, listening to tales, all
are of no avail. Concentrated complete faith - that alone can bring
victory. This is true of any worldly activity, is it not? How much more
true it must be, therefore, in the spiritual field? (SSS, I, 128; July
10, 1959)

The Past and Future
of India

The science of spiritual
culture and of the control of the mind has been developed and practiced
in this country for thousands of years; and that is why Indian
civilization has stood the shock of ages and the fury of typhoons that
swept whole peoples off their feet. India is still green and fresh, on
the threshold of a new era, under the leadership of her on ancient
ideals. (SSS, I, 135; July 11, 1959)

The Next Generation

In the next fifteen
years, a number of young people now growing up will shine as devoted
aspirants in the spiritual field; they know that each of them is Nithyam
[Eternal] and Sathyam [Truthful] and Pavithram [Holy] and that they are
Amrithaputhras or children of immortality. They are growing in Viveka
[Discernment] and Vairagya [Renunciation] and they are purifying
themselves by Namasmarana [repetition of the Name of God]. (SSS, I, 114;
Feb. 7, 1959)

Let There be
Consistency in Thought, Word and Deed

You who shared in this
glorification of the Lord will tomorrow as enthusiastically join in some
other gathering where falsehood and injustice are honored! There is no
consistency in your behavior. What you feel as correct and what you do
are poles apart. That is not the mark of a Bhakta [devotee]. (SSS, I,
124; April 12, 1959)

Karma [action] is the
very foundation of Bhakti [devotion]. It is the basement on which
devotion is built. Dharma is the attitude in which action is done, the
Truth, Prema and Equanimity with which the mind is activated, when it
seeks to do things. ... Those dominated by Sathwaguna [the quality of
balance, goodness, or purity] will do Karma, regardless of the fruits
thereof, leaving the result to the Lord, not worrying whether it leads
to success or failure, conscious of their duties and never of their
rights. (SSS, I, 125; April 12, 1959)

Give up the Pursuit
of Wealth

The Jivi [individual
soul] has come to this birth in order to reveal the splendor of the
spark of Godhead which it is. The body is the wick of the lamp, yearning
for God is the ghee which feeds the flame. But like the rat which,
attracted by the strong smelling cheap stuff inside the trap, neglects
all other articles of food in the granary and falls a prey to its
foolishness, man too neglects his real sustenance and wastes his life in
pursuit of mortal riches. (SSS, I, 125; April 12, 1959)

Liberation does not
Come at a Single Jump

The sensory world is the
cloud that hides the Atma [Self], ever shining in the firmament of your
heart. ... Train the mind to disperse the clouds, not to gather them.
Every aspirant has to do this by following a systematic discipline. You
cannot reach the peak in one jump; it is a hard job to negate the
evidence of the senses; one has to overcome the tendencies that have
grown through hundreds of births. (SSS, I, 121; April 12, 1959)

1960

Baba's Mission

I have come to set the
world right and so I have to collect all those who are ill and treat
them in my 'Hospital' and restore them to sanity, strength and wisdom
and send them back to their stations in life. I must intensify your
Bhakti, reinforce your faith and rebuild the foundations of your moral
nature, so that you can counter temptations with greater confidence. (SSS,
I, 183; Sept. 28, 1960)

All these [spiritual
treasures] are now fast declining and I have come to restore them to
their pristine purity and strength. (SSS, I, 175; Sept. 27, 1960)

My Mission is to give
you Ananda [Divine Bliss] and I am ever ready to do so. (SSS, I, 155;
from talk given June 25, 1960)

Showering Ananda, that
is My task. (SSS, I, 180; Sept. 28, 1960)

You are My treasure;
even if you deny Me. I am your treasure, even if you say No. I shall be
affectionate to you and attach Myself to you; I shall take all the
trouble to keep My property safe in My custody! That is to say, in the
custody of the Lord, by whichever name you may be calling upon Him. All
the powers I have are for you; I am just the store-keeper, keeping them
ready to be given to you, whenever you ask for them. My Prema [Divine
Love] shall [I] give even if you do not ask, for it is your right to
share in it. (SSS, I, 182; Sept. 28, 1960)

The Lord is
Inscrutable

No one can unravel the
Mystery of the Lord. (SSS, I, 175; Sept. 27, 1960)

You cannot understand Me
and My Secret ... without first understanding yourselves. For, if you
are too weak to grasp your own Reality, how can you hope to fathom the
much grander Reality of My Advent? To grasp My Meaning, you have to tear
into tatters the doubts and theories you now have and cultivate Prema;
for the embodiment of Prema can be understood only through Prema. (SSS,
I, Jan. 22, 1960)

I have no ... balance of
karma to work out! I am unaffected by karma.... The Maha Shakti [Divine
Energy] puts on the cloak of Maya Shakti [illusory energy and its forms]
in order to fulfill the purpose of contacting and protecting mankind. I
have no desire and so, no binding karma. It is only you who have the
desire, aim and wish that drag you along various paths. For Me, your
Ananda is My Food, your elation is the swing on which I sit. Your
activity is My Playground. (SSS, I, 179; Sept. 28, 1960)

The Lord is
Unchanging

The Lord will never
undergo a fundamental change; only the external form may change, the
essence will be the same. ... The Lord will be characterized by
unbounded Prema and unsullied sweetness. (SSS, I, 180; Sept. 28, 1960)

There is no one who can
change My course or affect My conduct to the slightest extent. I am the
Master over all. (SSS, I, 182; Sept. 28, 1960)

I will be in this mortal
form for 59 years more and I shall certainly achieve the purpose of this
Avatar, do not doubt it. I will take My own Time to carry out My Plan so
far as you are concerned. I cannot hurry because you are hurrying.

I may sometimes wait
until I can achieve ten things at one stroke.... But My Word will never
fail; it must happen as I Will. (SSS, I, 189; Sept. 29, 1960)

The World is My
Mansion

Suffering in one corner
of the world is as much the concern of the Lord as suffering in any
other. ... The world is a Temple; the temple of the Lord, His body where
He resides. (SSS, I, 156; June 25, 1960)

I Speak with the
Authority of Love

I am not commanding you
today on the basis of my authority; I am telling you out of the fullness
of Prema, on the basis of the right I have to chastise you and direct
you along the path. (SSS, I, 152; Jan. 22, 1960)

I have not come for
propaganda or publicity or gaining disciples or devotees. I am yours and
you are Mine. Where then is the need for publicity? I give not lectures
but mixtures for your mental health and moral re-invigoration. So take
My words as medicine necessary for your health. (SSS, I, 159; June 25,
1960)

I Want no Praise

I do not want you to
extol Me; I shall be satisfied if you rely on Me. (SSS, I, 180; Sept.
28, 1960)

Only He knows what is
Ahead

The Lord alone is aware
of the Plan, for His is the Plan. You see only a part of the play on the
stage and so it is all very confused. When the entire story is unfolded,
then you will appreciate His Plan, not until then. (SSS, I, 181; Sept.
28, 1960)

Our Role

If by acting your role
well you develop Prema [Divine Love] towards fellow-actors, that is more
important than getting Bhakti [Devotion] for God. If you acquire Shanthi
[Peace], that is a more valuable success than acquiring Jnana [Wisdom].
For Bhakti is the seed of Prema and Jnana is the seed of Shanthi. At
least, Bhaktas should behave as if they are all of one family. (SSS, I,
181; Sept. 28, 1960)

Let each one march at
his own pace; only the direction and the road have to be God-wards. (SSS,
I, 183; Sept. 28, 1960)

Don't Miss This
Opportunity

I must tell you that you
are luckier than men of previous generations. The accumulated merit of
many previous births must have granted you this luck. You have got Me
and it is your duty now to develop this relationship that you have
achieved by sheer good fortune. In four or five years' time, you will
see Yogis [those who are united with God] and Maharishis [great seers]
and Munis [silent sages] crowding here and you may not have such chances
of asking Me questions and getting the answers, of approaching Me and
directly speaking to Me. (SSS, I, 174-5; Sept. 27, 1960)

I have now fallen into
your grasp, the very Treasure that you have been searching for. (SSS, I,
186; Sept. 29, 1960)

The mysterious
indescribable superpower has come within reach. ... I bring tears of joy
into your eyes and wipe the tears of grief. ... I make [people] mad
about God and about the Sadhana [spiritual practice] needed [to reach
Him]. I cure the madness which makes people run frantically after
fleeting pleasures and fall into fits of joy and grief.(SSS, I,
180;Sept. 28, 1960)

You must know how to use
the chance that you have got in this life to come in contact with the
Lord. ... How you use this chance depends upon your destiny and luck and
the amount of Grace that you are able to win. Develop faith; strengthen
devotion; and everything will follow. ... I command you: never hate
others, or wish evil of them or talk ill of them. Then only can you
attain the Santhaswarupam [??]. (SSS, I, 181; Sept. 28, 1960)

The Way is Long

To reach the [final]
stage..., you have got to go a long way. But do not be down-hearted....
I am here ready to help you from the first lesson to the last. Do not be
weighed down by sorrow that your Prarabdha karma is against your
progress. The accumulation of the effects of your past karma is
sanchitha and out of that store what you have selected for present
consumption can be made sweet, palatable and health-giving. Moreover,
God's Grace can destroy the effects of past karma or modify its rigor.
Never doubt that. If the law of Karma is so unbreakable, then why
recommend Sadhana, good living and cultivation of virtue? Prarabdha
[karmic consequences that one is currently encountering] will melt like
mist before the Sun if you win the Grace of the Lord! (SSS, I, 196;
Sept. 30, 1960)

1966

Baba Refuses Audience
to Advanced Sadhaks

[Swami Maheshwaranand:]
Bhagawan Baba is not allowing the Rishis [divine seers] and Siddhas
[those with yogic powers] to meet him. But the time is not far off when
all [the] ill take human forms and ... go to Puttaparthi along with
[the] Rishis and Munis to offer their prayerful salutations to the Lord
and seek His blessings.

Twenty years ago [i.e.,
1966] ... the Lord was having breakfast with some close devotees. They
proposed to Bhagawan [i.e., the Lord], "Swami! Your Leelas and miracles
are the talk of every home in almost all the major countries of the
world. As such we want to organise a conference of all spiritual seekers
at the international level and declare from that forum that God, the
Creator of this Universe, has already come down to earth. By so doing
the entire humanity will get the benefit of the Lord's presence."

Bhagawan Baba listened
to them with a smile and spoke compassionately, "Your feelings for your
fellow beings are commendable and I respect them. But that time is still
far off. Prior to that I have to
bring such persons near me, who, in their previous lives, have been
incessantly and untiringly trying to get access to me through their
severe Sadhana.
A time will come when the world will know about the Avatar through
public declaration. All the same impelled by a sense of duty if you wish
to bring this truth to the knowledge of your fellow devotees and
friends, you may do so on a personal level." (SSBNNGA, 1990, book
written in 1986, 38)

1968

Kali Yuga

At the present time,
strife and discord have robbed peace and unity from the family, the
school, the society, the religions, the cities and the state. (Baba in
1968 in HMAP, 1975, 86)

Respect for spiritual
institutions, temples, holy places, elders and sacred books are fast
declining. Pride in material wealth and competition in acquiring it, are
fast increasing. This is the tragedy of our times. (SSS, VI, 169; from
talk given March 26, 1 968)

Man's mind is too full
of the world; his stomach is demanding too much of his time and energy.
His desires and wants are multiplying too fast for his capacity to
satisfy them; his dreams are far too real for him; they lead him into
false victories and absurd adventures. Engrossed in the analysis of the
material world, he has lost all sense of sin, sweetness and sublimity;
under this new dispensation, truth has become just a word in the
dictionary. Compassion is reduced to a meaningless travesty. Humility,
patience, reverence -- these are invalid as a flameless lamp in the far
distance.

The only hold that man
has in this dreadful darkness is the name of God. That is the raft which
will take him across this stormy sea, darkened by hate and fear, churned
by anxiety and terror. (SSS, VI, 163; Feb. 26, 1968)

Baba's Mission

God incarnates for the
revival of Dharma (Righteousness) which includes morality, truth,
virtue, love and a host of other qualities that uphold the communities
of man as well as the individual. The other purposes usually give --
serving the devoted, destroying the wicked, re-establishing the sacred
tradition -- these are all secondary. For, he who is righteous will be
guarded from harm, by righteousness itself; he who is unrighteous will
fall into disaster through the evil that he perpetrates. The one task
includes all else.

I shall fulfill that
task, whatever the comments that others may make. Comment is a natural
corollary. I do not pay attention to it; nor should you. The higher the
hill, the deeper the valley. Praise or blame will not affect me in the
least. The unshakeable foundation on which my work is proceeding is
Ananda. I cannot be moved from it, by any one, at any time. (SSS, VI,
167; from talk given Feb. 26, 1968)

For the protection of
the virtuous, for the destruction of evil-doers and for establishing
righteousness on a firm footing, I incarnate from age to age. Whenever
asanthi, or disharmony, overwhelms the world, the Lord will
incarnate in human form to establish the modes of earning Prashanthi,
or peace, and to reeducate the human community in the paths of peace.
(Baba in 1968 in HMAP, 1975, 86)

I have come to correct
the Buddhi, the intelligence, by various means. I have to
counsel, help, command, condemn and stand by as a friend and well-wisher
to all, so that they may give up evil propensities and, recognizing the
straight mark, tread it and reach the goal. (Baba in 1968 in HMAP, 1975,
87)

I have come to give you
the key to the treasure of Ananda, or bliss, to teach you how to
tap that spring, for you have forgotten the way to blessedness. If you
waste this time of saving yourselves, it is just your fate. You have
come to get from me tinsel and trash, the petty little cures and
promotions, worldly joys and comforts. Very few of you desire to get
from me the thing that I have come to give you: namely, liberation
itself. Even among these few, those who stick to the path of Sadhana,
or spiritual practice, and succeed are a handful. (Baba in 1968 in HMAP,
1975, 88)

Who can be called a
Devotee?

You can lay claim to be
a devotee only when you have placed yourself in my hands fully and
completely with no trace of ego. (Baba in 1968 in HMAP, 1975, 86)

Baba's Promise

Cultivate nearness with
me in the heart and it will be rewarded. Then you too will acquire a
fraction of that supreme love (Baba in 1968 in HMAP, 1975, 91)

You can enjoy the bliss
through the experience the Avatar confers. (Baba in 1968 in HMAP,
1975, 86)

The West Misleads
Itself

In western countries
now, God is denied, and man is relying on himself; he exaggerates his
own intelligence and sense of adventure and prides himself on the
advance he has made through science and technology. But, intelligence
without equanimity is filling mental hospitals. Peace is fleeing from
the hearts of men and women; social harmony is becoming a distant dream;
international concord is a mirage, pursued by a few. Man travels to the
moon, but does not explore his own inner levels of consciousness. (SSS,
VII, March 16, 1968, 12.)

When Changes will
Start

[Dr. John Hislop:]
According to the astrology of ancient times, the change in world
conditions to be brought about by Swami's influence will come in about
15 years [this conversation was in December, 1968]. This was predicted
about 5,600 years ago in the Upanishads. The coming of Baba, the Sai
Avatar, which includes the three incarnations, is all forecast quite
clearly. People born in this generation may consider themselves quite
fortunate. The 1985 change is the beginning of the "Great Awakening,"
mentioned below; the beginning of the Golden Age is said to occur around
1998-2000

Be Confident that You
will All be Liberated

This is a great chance.
Be confident that you will all be liberated. Know that you are saved.
Many hesitate to believe that things will improve, that life will be
happy for all and full of joy, and that the golden age will recur. Let
me assure you that this Dharmaswarupa, that this divine body, has
not come in vain. It will succeed in averting the crisis that has come
upon humanity. (Baba in 1968 in HMAP, 1975, 91)

1970

Question of
Priorities

A group of scholars who
had come to me recently asked me, "Swami! You talk of the flames of
anxiety and fear; but, surely, you appreciate the great step forward
that man has taken by landing on the moon!" I told them, it was wrong to
spend billions of dollars and roubles on such enterprises. ... It is a
question of priorities; first things first. When so many nations upon
the Earth are undernourished, undereducated, underhoused, it is sheer
absence of discrimination to spend time, skill and money for this
spectacular competitive adventure. Later, when the earth has been made
the home of a happy family of peoples, such enterprises can be planned.
(SSS, VIII, 7; from talk given March 6, 1970)

Live in the Community

The community in which
you find yourself is the arena where you can win the victory, the
gymnasium where you develop the skill to win. The spiritual journey lies
through compassion, sympathy, mutual help, and service, and these are
fostered by society and are to be used for society. (SSS, VIII, 5; from
talk given March 6, 1970)

1971

Baba's Mission

Baba has announced many
times that He has come to save the world and [that] He is the Lord
Himself. My task is the spiritual regeneration of humanity through truth
and love. I have come to show you how to live usefully and die
profitably. I have come to guide and bless those who undergo the
discipline and practice leading to Divine union. I came ... because the
good men of the world, the saintly, the wise, the sage, and the seeker,
the guides and the Godly longed for Me. Where there is a desire for
mental tranquility, I hurry to grant it; where there is melancholy, I
hasten to lift the drooping heart; where there is no mutual trust, I
restore it; I am ever on the move to fulfill the mission for which I
have come. Baba's campaign of spreading the message of love has only
just begun, and all who have heard His message can clearly visualize the
significance of the declaration He made on the opening page of Sanathana
Sarathi [the name means "the ancient charioteer" and refers to Krishna
in particular, who guided Arjuna's chariot in the battle of Kurukshetra,
the backdrop of the Bhagavad-Gita, and God in general, who is the
internal Guide], the monthly magazine He inaugurated on February 16,
1958, the thirty-second year of His earthly career. On that day, the
Sanathana Sarathi, the charioteer, started out on the campaign against
falsehood, injustice, wickedness and evil -- the minions of the spirit
of egoism. The victory to be won is the welfare of the entire world.
When the triumphant drums are beaten in the joy of success, humanity
will have achieved happiness and peace, prosperity and bliss. The word "Sarathi"
is an assurance from Baba that He will guide the seeker if only he takes
the initial step of inviting Him to take over the reins of his life. The
word "Sanathana" is a reminder that this has been the role of Baba since
the dawn of creation. I have not started the work for which I have come
for I am still in the stage of preliminary reconnaissance. When I start
my campaign the whole world will know of it and benefit by it. Already
the plans of the campaign are clear on the horizon. (LBSSSB, 1971)

Time not ready for
Publicity

You know this [incident]
now, because [someone] wrote about it. But remember, this is only a
millionth part of My activity in showering Grace. (LBSSSB, 1971, 186)

Baba Reveals His Time
of Death

[Kasturi:] Baba has
assured us that He will remain in the human frame beyond the year 2020.
(LBSSSB, 1971, 235)

Shirdi and Sathya Sai
Baba

The mother is usually
stern when the children enter the kitchen and disturb her while cooking;
but while serving the food, she is all joy and patience. I am now
serving you the dishes cooked then [when I was Shirdi Sai Baba];
wherever you may be, if you are hungry, and if you have a plate, I shall
serve you the dishes and feed you to your heart's content. (LBSSSB,
1971, 170)

Baba's Behavior is
All Meaningful

I never utter a word
that does not have significance, or do a deed without beneficial
consequence. (LBSSSB, 1971, 196)

Baba will help the
Sincere Inquirer

If you ... act according
to My words, and put them into daily practice, I will gladly tell you
more and more, for that is the reason why I have come. (LBSSSB, 1971,
225)

His Devotees Rely on
Him

Why fear when I am here?
Put all your faith in Me. I shall guide and guard you. Ardent devotees
of Sai Baba are content to leave the welfare of their physical frames to
His Will. Nothing will harm him who turns his attention towards Me. (Shirdi
Sai Baba in LBSSSB, 1971)

Our Good Fortune

You of this generation
are indeed lucky that you have the fortune of contact with Me and the
chance to receive the guidance I have come to give. (LBSSSB, 1971)

Grace Available to
All

It is not mentioned
anywhere that the Grace of God is available only for certain classes or
races or grades of people. From the smallest to the biggest, throughout
the world, all are entitled to it. (LBSSSB, 1971)

Religion is Being
Challenged

[He said] religion and
belief in God are being challenged now from all quarters. It is
therefore the duty of all good men to meet this challenge by
demonstrating to the critics how the realization of the constant
presence of the Lord has made them more efficient, more earnest, and
more courageous for the task of living. (LBSSSB, 1971)

The Character of New
World Leaders

The world can achieve
prosperity and peace only through ... persons whose hearts are pure and
whose minds are free of prejudice and passion, lust and greed, anger and
envy. (LBSSSB, 1971)

Service Undedicated
to God is Unprofitable

Though the service of
humanity is holy, unless it is merged in the higher ideal of the Lord,
realizing the Lord immanent in all, adoring the Lord in the form of
everyone, there is no profit at all. One should have full faith in the
divinity of man and service should be offered in the uninterrupted
contemplation of the Lord. Use the power, knowledge and attainments the
Lord has endowed you with for the greater glory of the Lord, whatever be
the field of activity or the region of duty where you are called upon to
render service. (LBSSSB, 1971)

1974

Prepare to Shoulder
Your Task

Prepare for shouldering
the task assigned to you - to be instruments dedicated [to] the mission
on which the Divine has come. (SSS, IX)

1975

The Kali Yuga

You are fully aware of
the characteristics of this Kaliyuga [an age of evil and violence] we
are passing through. You find around you injustice, irregularities,
immorality and untruth with all their devilish attributes and
atrocities. But we have to march ahead in spite of all this with a
quiet, tolerant and benign attitude towards life. (BSSS, 1975)

The main reason for this
disorder is that the human mind is haunted and dominated by two devilish
blemishes, viz. selfishness and ambition. These forces are standing in
the way of human beings realising the human values which go to make up
humanity. It is not becoming of a man to exchange his valuable life --
as precious as a gem -- for worldly desires and ambitions which are as
worthless as a coal-stone. Man becomes immortal neither by deeds, nor by
procreation nor by wealth. We should therefore try to make our lives
meaningful by sacrificing our personal comforts for the sake of society
and our fellow beings. (BSSS, 1975)

Baba's Mission

It is my mission on
earth to make every one happy. (BSSSB, 1975)

Baba's Promise

Today our country is
witnessing a number of agitations and disturbances. People have a fear
that any moment foreigners may step in and dominate our national life.
... But there is no scope for such fear of disaster. You need not be
afraid of any such eventuality. You should develop a spirit of sacrifice
and derive pleasure from within. You keep the weapon of love always
sharp and shining. An atom bomb can destroy innumerable lives while the
bomb of love unites several hearts and fills them with love. We should
therefore develop this love for all mankind and accommodate them in our
hearts. (BSSS, 1975)

Why Baba Avoids
Publicity

[Miracles are] happening
in millions of homes. The time has not come as yet to assess it
publicly. I am waiting so that all the devotees who have yet to come to
me may do so. (BSSSB, 1975)

Timetable of the
Golden Age

[Dr. V.K. Gokak:] There
is the possibility that there is going to be a world crisis around the
1980s, after which there will be a definite turn towards what we call
the Golden Age. At this time, it will be clear to man that any more
entering into world power games will end in disaster for the whole
world; and this will not be done. Simultaneous with this realization,
there will be a descent of Grace. This descent of Grace is what will
really bring forward the "Hour of God". This "Hour of God" is different
from the prediction regarding the collapse of California.

The "Hour of God" is the
hour of the unexpected; there will be different patterns in things. We
may find that all elections that take place will place good men into
positions of power. It is the good men that will begin to lead the
industries. It will be the good men that will serve the people. Then
there will be a great change in the very atmosphere. This will be one of
the signs of the coming of the Golden Age. (BSSSB, 1975)

Look to God

Prominent men of society
and great political leaders ... are heroes on the platform, but zeros in
practical life. There is no use depending on these leaders. The one that
leads us is the Lord of the entire universe, who creates and sustains
his whole creation. It is only He who can give us lasting happiness and
peace. (BSSS, 1975)

Find God in
Everything

We should develop a
habit of visualizing unity in diversity and not diversity in the unity
that is Divine. God is everywhere and in everyone. The whole universe is
inhabited by Him. One should find God in every object. These are the
ideals we find in our scriptures. (BSSS, 1975)

The West has Misled
Itself

It is a strange [that]
westerners ... during the past 200 years ... have done their best to get
control over the powers of nature and to create fearful machines for
that purpose. But ... today, although man has conquered the entire
world, ... he is not able to conquer himself. To conquer and control
one's mind is the primary duty of man. The path which enables us to
control our mind is the spiritual path. (BSSS, 1975)

Serve Society

This material prosperity
and our power and positions are purely temporary. What accompanies us to
the other world is our good conduct. We should therefore try to do
something good to society and spend whatever time we can afford on
virtuous actions. This is the only way we can make our lives meaningful
and become eligible for the sacred love of our Lord. Be kind to mankind.
Take pity on the helpless to the extent you can. (BSSS, 1975)

Peace Lies Within

When we say there is no
peace in the world, the world is never like that. The lack of peace is
in your heart. To keep on shouting that there is no peace in this world
is not right. Lack of peace is the problem of an individual. .. There is
as much peace in this world as you want. (BSSS, 1975)